Centrifugal apparatus for segregating constituents of different specific gravities



y 27, 1952 M GALMICHE 2,598,118

CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS FOR SEGREGATING CONSTITUENTS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES Filed 001,. 27, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET l I I f 14/ 7 l? I I 2/ I 1 m INVENTOR 'M Ga /m/cfie BY M Q M ATTORNEYS y 27, 1952 M. GALMICHE 2,598,118

CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS FOR SEGREGATING CONSTITUENTS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed 001;. 27. 1.949

) INVENTOR BY MM ATTORNEYS Patented May 27, 1952 CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS FOR SEGREGAT- ING CONSTITUENTS OF DIFFERENT SPE- CIFIC GRAVITIES Michel Galmiche, Paris, France, assignor to Societe Jaruza A. G. Chur, Zurich, Switzerland, a

Swiss company Application October 27, 1949, Serial No. 123,888 In France October 28, 1948 4 Claims.

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for separating substances and has more particular reference to a method of and apparatus for the treatment of suspensions and for the segregation of particles or grains of difierent sizes and specific gravities.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine for separating substances of different densities by centrifugalization, including conduits for evacuating the separated substances from the bowl thereof, so constructed and arranged as to retard the rate of flow of the evacuated substances therethrough to reduce wear of the conduits and to enable larger conduits to be employed, thereby eliminating clogging of the conduits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal machine, as above characterized, wherein a plurality of conduits are provided for evacuating the separated material from difierent concentric zones at different radial distances from the axis of rotation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal machine, as above characterized, including a conduit arranged to deliver the suspension to be treated into the rotating bowl tangential to its inner circumference adjacent its bottom edge and in the direction of rotation of the bowl to prevent wear on the bowl and to avoid breaking up .the grains, and also to increase the efficiency of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal machine, as above characterized, in which the conduits for evacuating the separated substances from the bowl are adjustably mounted so that their inlet openings may be positioned at selected radial distances from the axis of rotation of the bowl to provide for separating grains of difierent specific gravities.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method of separating substances of different densities and for segregating grains according to their specific gravities and sizes from a suspension.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following specification when considered in connection with the following drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view with parts omitted or broken away, of an embodiment of a centrifugal machine having a vertical axis of rotation and constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of centrifuge having a horizontal axis of rotation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. i, of a second modification of a centrifugal machine constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown, in Fig. 1, one embodiment of a centrifugal ma chine constructed in accordance with the present invention. As there shown, the machine comprises a container or bowl It mounted on a vertical rotatable shaft 11 I, which may be rotated at high speeds by any suitable means, such as a motor l2 and gears l3, I4, secured, respectively, on the shaft I I and a shaft I5 driven by the motor 12; a feed pipe or conduit It for delivering the suspension to be treated into the bowl I0; a plurality of evacuation pipes or conduits l1 connected to and carried by the bowl l0; and upper and lower circular troughs I8, I9 for receiving the material evacuated from the bowl ID.

lhe bowl i8 is shown as being pot-shaped and having a fiat bottom 26, a lower, upwardly and outwardly extending side wall portion 2| and an upper inwardly and upwardly extending side wall portion 22 provided with an outwardly extending horizontal peripheral flange 23 at its upper end.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced evacuation pipes or conduits I! are connected to the bowl for communication with the interior thereof at the juncture of the upper and lower side wall portions 2i and 22. The pipes I! are shown as extending inwardly and upwardly and substantially parallel to the upper side Wall portion 22. The pipes extend through the flange 23 and have their upper end portions bent outwardly to extend into the upper trough l 8, so that the material evacuated from the bowl through the pipes will be discharged into the trough Hi, from which it is discharged through drain pipe 24.

The annular stationary troughs l8 and I9 surround the upper ends of the pipes ll above the bowl It and are supported in this position in any suitable manner. The trough l9 encircles the annular flanges 23 and is positioned so that material evacuated from the bowl H} by overflowing the flange 23 will be discharged into the trough l9, from which it is removed through the drain pipe 25.

In the operation of the device shown in Fig. l, the suspension to be treated is delivered into the bowl 18 through the feed pipe l6 and submitted to the action of the centrifugal force by the high speed of rotation of the bowl. The centrifuged force causes a separation to take place, the larger particles being forced toward the periphery, whence they expel the lighter particles. The two partial suspensions, thus obtained, are then evacuated separately. The heavy compoments at the periphery of the bowl are evacuated through the pipes H, and the light components in the vicinity of the axis of rotation of the bowl it are evacuated by flowing upwardly and over the flange 23.

In Fig. 2, there is shown a second embodiment of a centrifugal machine constructed in accordance with the present invention. The machine shown in this embodiment is generally similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except that the feed pipe for delivering the suspension to'be treated projects through the bottom of the bowl and the bowl is adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis as well as a vertical axis. As shown in Fig. 2, the machine comprises a conically shaped bowl I mounted on a horizontal rotatable shaft H, which may be rotated at high speeds by any suitable means such as a motor 12'; a fixed feed pipe or conduit It for introducing the suspension to be treated into the bowl .Hl'; a plurality of pipes or conduits ll connected to and carried by the bowl a cover 26 for the bowl iil'carrying an annular separation partition 21 and a hollow cylinder 28 to which the shaft H is attached;

and-circular troughs l8, [9' for receiving the material-evacuated from the bowl H).

The bowl [0' is shown as being conically shaped and having a fiat disc-shaped bottom 29 (-whichqforms'the left hand end wall as viewed in Fig. ,2, where the bowl is shown as mounted for ii rotation about a horizontal axis), a frustoconical side wall 30, an annular cover member 26 having a hollow cylindrical member 28 ex tending therefrom and attached to the rotatable shaft vl1l by means of which the bowl I0 is rocumferentially spaced evacuation pipes or conduits 3| positioned to discharge into the annu lar trough 18' as the bowl rotates. The underside or left hand side, as viewed in Fig. 2, of the cover member 26 carries an annular separation partition 21 extending normal thereto.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced evacuation pipes ii are connected to the bowl H3, for communication with the interior thereof, at its upper outer periphery. The pipes I? are shown as extending inwardly over the cover member toward the axis of rotation of the bowl and have their inner ends bent outwardly to discharge into the annular trough I3, as the bowl rotates.

The annular stationary troughs l8 and i9 surround the discharge ends of the evacuation pipes 3| and I1 and are supported in this position in any suitable manner. The troughs l8 and I9 are shown as being provided with drain pipes 24', 25.

The fixed feed pipe It extends into the bowl i0 through an opening '32 in its bottom wall (left hand side wall when mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, as shown in Fig. 2) The opening 32 is provided with a bearing member 33 so that the pipe I6 acts as a supportfor the bowl It as it rotates about the pip Hi.

The operation of the device shown in Fig. 2 is generally similar to the operation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

The suspension to be treated enters the bowl it through the feed pipe 16 and is submitted to the action of centrifugal force by a rapid movement of rotation. The centrifugal force causes a separation to take place; the larger particles are forced toward the periphery of the bowl I0, whence they expel the lighter particles. The separator partition .2] facilitates the separation. The two partial suspensions, thus obtained, are then evacuated separately, the heavy components on the periphery of the bowl are evacuated through the pipes 11, the light components in the vicinity of the axis of rotation of the bowl It enter the cylindrical member '28 and are evacuated therefrom through the pipes 3 i The embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. ,1 "and 2 find their main application in the segregation of pseudo-solutions, for example, the treatment of milkof lime.

They can also be used, by increasing the rotational speed, for the segregation of the solid elements contained in :a suspension, for example, for clarifying water and also for obtaining the concentration of pseudo-solutions, for inst-ance, for washing with dense liquors.

With a higher rotational speed, these embodiments of the invention can also be used .forridding gases of volatile dusts, .or, if the centrifugal force is higher than the force moving the gas molecules in the Brownian motion, vfor the segregation of mixtures of gases of different specific gravities, for instance, epuration of gases containing tar insuspension.

As already mentioned, the embodiments of the invention, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be used for segregating grains of difierent sizes and specific gravities. However, the machines provide for the segregation into only two categories.

In Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown a third embodiment of .a centrifugal machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and which permits the segregation of grains of different sizes and specific .gravities into a plurality of categories.

As shown in Figs. .3 and 4, this particular .embodiment of the invention comprises .a bowl 34 mounted .on a vertical rotatable shaft 35, which may be rotated at high speeds by any suitable means, such as .a motor 36 and gears .31, 38 secured, respectively, on the shaft 3.5 and a shaft 39 driven by the motor 3.6; a feed pip 40 for delivering the suspension to be treated into the bowl 334; a pair of evacuating pipes M, 42; troughs 43 and 44 for receiving the material evacuated from the bowl through the pipes 41 and 42, respectively; and .an annular trough 45 for receiving the material evacuated from the bowl along the axis .of rotation thereof.

The bowl 34 is shown as being cup-shaped and having a flat bottom 45, :a lower upwardly and outwardly extending side wall portion 51,, andan upper cylindrical wall portion 48, a top wall 49 having .a circular opening 58 therein concentric with the axis of rotation of the bowl and having" a ring or collar .5! extending upwardly from the side of the circular opening and provided with a horizontal peripheral flange 52 at its upper end.

The fixed feed pipe 48 is supported above the bowl in any suitable manner with its lower end extending into the bowl to a point adjacent the bottom thereof. The lower end portion of the feed pipe is bent laterally and the lateral portion is bent in the form of an are, as shown in Fig. 4, with the outlet orifice 53 in the end of the pipe facing in the direction of rotation of the bowl, so that the product .fed arrives in the direction of rotation of the bowl, as indicated .by the arrow in Fig. 4, which arrow also indicates the direction of rotation of the bowl.

The evacuation pipe 41 is supported above the bowl in any suitable manner and is pivotally mounted in vertically spaced bearings, indicated at 54 and 55, to permit it to be rotated and adjusted about its vertical axis. The lower end of the pipe 4| is bent laterally, and the lateral extension is bent in the form of an arc, as shown in Fig. 4, with the inlet orifice 56 in the end of the pipe facing opposite to the direction of rotation of the bowl.

The upper end portion of the pipe 4| is bent to extend laterally to bring its discharge orifice 5! over the trough 43. Due to the pipe 4| being rotatable about its vertical axis, the pipe may be rotated to vary the radial distance of the inlet orifice 56 from the aXis of rotation of the bowl, for a purpose hereinafter to be described. The width of the trough 43 is such as to take care of the arcuate movement of the discharge orifice 5! when the pipe 4| is rotated.

The evacuation pipe 42 is supported above the bowl in any suitable manner and is pivotally mounted in vertically spaced bearings, indicated at 58 and 59, to permit it to be rotated and adjusted about its vertical axis. The lower end of the pipe 42 is bent laterally and the lateral extension is bent in the form of an arc, as shown in Fig. 4, with the inlet orifice 651 in the end of the pipe facing opposite to the direction of rotation of the bowl. The upper end portion of the pipe 42 is bent to extend laterally to bring its discharge orifice 6| over the trough 44. Due to the pipe 42 being rotable about its vertical axis, the pipe may be rotated to vary the radial distance of the inlet orifice 653 from the axis of rotation of the bowl. evacuate the heavy grains from the periphery of the bowl, its lower end portion is normally maintained in contact with the side wall of the bowl, as shown in Fig. 4. If desired, it may be spring urged to this position. Also, it may be desirable to provide the portion of the inner wall of the bowl which engages the end of the tube 42 with a special friction reducing material which can easily be removed and replaced after it is worn out. Appropriate means (not shown) may be provided for rotating the pipes about their vertical axes to their predetermined positions and for holding them in such adjusted positions.

The troughs 43 and 44 are fixedly supported above the bowl in position to receive the material evacuated from the bowl through the pipes 4| and 42, respectively.

The annular trough 65 is fixedly supported above the bowl in a position to surround the collar 5| with the flange 52 carried by the collar extending over the inner wall of the trough so that material evacuated from the bowl along the axis of rotation thereof will pass through the collar 5| and fiow over the flange 52 into the trough 45 and then out through the drain pipe 62.

The operation of the device will be described in connection with the treatment of a raw product consisting, for example, of a mixture of coal, mixed and shale grains mixed with a pseudosolution of a heavy product finely crushed, for instance, magnetite in water. The pseudo-solution having, for instance, a specific gravity of 1.3, the coal, mixed and shale grains to be segregated in the specific gravities of 1.4, 1.7 and 2, respectively.

The raw product is fed into the bowl through the feed pipe 49 and is discharged in the direction of rotation of the bowl. Preferably, the raw product is discharged at a high speed, and one equal to the speed of rotation of the product However, as the pipe d2 is designed to f "6 already in the bowl. To supply the machine in this manner, a tank for holding the-raw product fed into the feed pipe 40 may be provided at a sufficient height to provide the desired velocity of the raw product as it is discharged into the bowl. This high speed supply of the suspension to the centrifugal machine is not essential to its operation, but it is desirable to increase the efiiciency. Inside the bowl, the centrifugal force causes the grains to arrange themselves into annular zones of increasing specific gravities from the axis of rotation of the bowl to its maximum diameter. The lighter products (coal in the case now considered) are evacuated along the axis of rotation of the bowl, through the collar 5| over the flange 52 into the trough 45 and out the drain pipe 62.

The intermediate products (the mixed products in the case now considered) are evacuated through the pipe 4| and discharged'into' the trough 43. As the inlet orifice of the pipe 4| faces opposite the direction of rotation of the bowl, the intermediate products enter the pipe at high speed, which makes it possible for them to rise in the pipe and flow into the trough 43.

The adjustability of the pipe 4| about its vertical axis, to position its inlet orifice at a greater or smaller distance from the axis of rotation of the bowl, makes it possible to select the specific gravity of the products evacuated through it.

The heavier products (the shale grains in the case now considered) are evacuated through the pipe 42 and discharged into the trough 44, in the same manner in which the intermediate products are evacuated by the pipe 4|.

In all of the foregoing embodiments of the invention, it will be noted that the evacuation pipes extend inwardly from their inlet orifices toward the axis of rotation of the bowl. This construction and arrangement retards the flow of the evacuated material therethrough, not only to reduce the abrasive action of the material on the pipes, but also, to enable larger conduits to be employed, thereby eliminating clogging of the conduits at their inlet orifices.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensible that all of the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

What is claimed is:

1. A centrifugal machine for segregating grains of different sizes and specific gravities from a suspension containing such grains, comprising an upright rotary bowl, a plurality of fixed troughs positioned above said bowl; 2. fixed conduit extending downwardly through the open upper end of the bowl for delivering the suspension into the bowl; means for rotating the bowl at a high speed, so that centrifugal force will cause the grains to arrange themselves into horizontally spaced concentric zones of increasing specific gravities, as the distance fromthe axis of rotation increases; and a plurality of evacuation pipes extending above the upper end portion of the bowl and downwardly through the open upper end thereof; each of said pipes having its outlet end positioned to discharge into one of said troughs and its inlet end positioned in said bowl to permit grains from one of said zones to enter the pipe, whereby the grains in the separate zones of said bowl are discharged into the separate troughs.

JL mimosa: machine, as set mm: in claim 1, "wherein one of said fixed troughs is armular and wherein the upper end of said bowl is providedwith a lateral annular fiz'mge extending partially over said annular trough so that grains evacuated along the" axis of rotation together with the suspension fluid, may now over said hangeand into said annular trough.

' 3'. Acentri fugalmachineforsegregating grains of difier'ent specific gravities and sizes carried by a-suspension, comprising a comically shaped vertical rotary howl having an annular cover walloarrying a collar concentric with the bowl axis, said collar having a lateral annular flange at its upper end: at least three fixed troughs, including one annular trough positioned above said bowl with said annular trough encircling said flange; 11 fixed conduit extending downwardly 'throughsai-d collar into the bottom portion of the bowl for delivering the suspension into said how-1, said conduit having a laterally eittending arcuate shaped bottom end portion positioned adjacent the bottom of said born with the discharge orifice of the conduit positioned to deliver the suspension in the direction of rotation of said bowl; means for rotating the bowl at high speed so that centrifugal force will cause the grains to arrange themselves into horizontally spaced, concentric zones "of increasing specific gravities as the distance from the axis of rotation increases; a pair of vertical evacuation pipes extending into said bowl, each of said pipes having a laterally extending upper portion positioned above the bowl so that the discharge orifice will deliver into one of said troughs and a laterally extending arcuate shaped bottom end portion positioned so that "its inlet orifice will race in a direction opposite to the direction in rotation of said bowl and in a selected 'bn'e of said zones, so that the grains in the selected zone will be forced upwardly through the evacuation pipe and into the trough over which the discharge orifice "is positioned, the construction and arrangement being such that the heavier grains may be evacuated through the pipe farthest from the axis of rotation, the intermediate fgrains evacuated through the other :pipe, and the light grains evacuated along the axis of rotation through the collar in the cover Wall of the bowlfand over the flange thereon into the annular trough.

4. Acentri-fu'gal machine, as set iorthin claim 3, wherein said vertical evacuation pipes are radially spaced from the 'axisof. rotation of the bowl and are rotatably mounted, so that they may be rotated and adjusted to bring their inlet orifices i-n-to selected ones of said zones.

GALMICHE, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 427,390 Beimling Hi-fi May 6, 18gb 585,552 Bushby June 29, v 139"! 2,083,809- Asch June 15, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,3135 Great Britain Mar. 13, 1833 429,327 Germany May 22, 1 9 2? 627,378 Germany lwar. 14, 1936 

